If you are planning a trip to South Korea, one of the essential apps that you will want to have on your phone is Naver Map. And it is likely that you would also want to know how to use Naver Map in English.
What is Naver Map
Naver Map is a Korean map app that is available for both Apple and Android devices. It can be downloaded for free from the Apple App store and Google Play store.
Within Naver Map, you can search for locations, find transport routes including walking, buses, subways and also check for restaurants and other places of interest in the surrounding area.
You can think of it as the Korean version of Google Maps.
Why Not Just Use Google Maps in Korea instead of Naver Maps
Wait, if Naver Map is just like Google Maps, why don’t I just use Google Maps while in Korea?
That’s because Google Maps doesn’t work well in Korea.
In a nutshell, South Korean laws prohibit the hosting of local map data outside of Korea. Therefore, Google Maps doesn’t have access to a lot of the data required for navigation as well as the most up-to-date statuses of places.
That’s why Naver Map is the preferred mapping in South Korea.
There is an alternative known as Kakao Map. This is linked to one of the largest messaging platforms in South Korea. However, if you are a visitor or a tourist in South Korea, Naver Map is the preferred map app choice.
Step by Step Guide on How to Use Naver Map in English
1. Download the Naver Map app
Start by downloading the Naver Map app from either the Apple App store or the Google Play store. Remember to look for Naver Map, not Naver, which is a different app.
You also have the option to access Naver Map from the browser at map.naver.com.
2. Set the Language to English
When you open Naver Map, the language settings may be set to your System setting. If that is so, then you will be all set.
If you find the language set to Korean, you will need to change it to English. To do so, tap the Menu icon at the left of the search bar (the three stacked lines) and tap the Settings icon (the gear).
Look for the word 언어 , which means “Language” in Korean. Tap it and select English. A pop-up will appear. Click the option on the right. The Naver app will turn off. Then you can turn it back on it it will be in English.
3. Download Maps by Province
It is useful to download the map for the province in South Korea that you will be visiting. This will allow you to see the map offline. However, navigation will not work without a data connection. Downloading the map also helps to reduce mobile data usage when using the map outdoors.
To download the map to your phone, go to Menu (three lines) and then Settings (gear), choose Navigation and swipe down to the option Download maps by province. You can then choose which of the six South Korean provinces that you wish to download.
The options are:
Seoul/Gyeonggi Province
Gangwon Province
Chungcheong Province
Gyeongbuk Province
Gyeongnam Province
Jeolla/Jeju Province
If you are only visiting Seoul, you only need to download the Seoul Province map. Those who are going to Jeju Island can download the Jeolla/Jeju Province map. You are going to Busan, you can download the Gyeongnam Province map.
Tips for Using the Naver Map
Subway Map
If you click on Settings (the three lines), you will see an option called Subway. Click on it to pull up a map of the subway in Seoul.
From the Subway map, you can click on any subway station to get directions on how to get there from another subway station.
You can also use a drop down menu to select the subway systems in other cities in South Korea, like Busan.
How to Search and Navigate with Naver Map
Like Google Maps, Naver Map also has a search box where you can type in the location of a place that you are looking for.
If it is a popular location, as you type, you will get a number of locations showing up as a list below. You can click on the correct location to get the results for the specific place that you are looking.
While the search results may be in Korean, what you can do is to take a screenshot and check the results using Google Translate. Another tip is that if the place is a well-known location or tourist landmark, it is usually safe to click the option that has the highest number of reviews.
When the information about the location you are searching for comes out, you can press the “To” button on the screen for it provide various routing options.
The “From” button allows you to find routes from the location to other destinations.
How to Change English Addresses to Korean Address
If you try inserting an English language address into Naver Map, you will often find that no results come out. That is because Naver Map works with Korean language addresses.
To change an English address to Korean address, use the website juso.go.kr.
Enter in the English language address in the search bar. In the result, you will see a button to the right that says Korean. Click on the button to translate the address to a Korean address. You can the copy and paste this Korean address into Naver Map.
Searching by Phone Number
Places like attractions and restaurants can also be searched for using their phone numbers on Naver Map. If you use Google to find the location’s phone number, you can then copy and past it into Naver Map to get a result.
Routes
When you want to get from one location to another, you can get use Naver Map to get the route. You can choose whether you want this route by train, bus or car.
One tip when using it to find a route on the subway. You will see numbers that say Fast transfer or Fast arrivals with number, e.g. 4-1. These numbers represent the subway car and door.
For example, if the Fast transfer says 5-3, it means that you board at the 5th car, 3rd door, you can quickly transfer to your next train or exit the subway station.
You can find these numbers on the subway doors so that you can easily locate the right spot.
Subway Timetables
Subways have timetables on Naver Map. This makes it easier to plan and know when the trains are arriving.
Saving Lists
To help plan out out your time in South Korea, you can also create lists in Naver Map. This allows you to organize places you wish to visit and see within the app.
Different lists have different colors, making them easier to see on the map.
You can save up to 5,000 locations in Naver Map, more than you’d be able to visit if you are a tourist.
If you found this article useful, you may also wish to read this guide on how to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul using the express train service. Or you may find this list of things to do in Myeongdong, a popular tourist spot, useful.
